I am so glad to be pounding the keyboard again after one whole week. I actually missed blogging. I had so many things to write about, so many thoughts in my mind but didn't get the chance to do so. Well let's just say that a recent development has just unfolded, I now have a job as a teacher at the same nursery where Xianelle goes to. Yup, after six long years since I got married, I finally got the opportunity to work (again). It is just a 3-week teaching stint, after which I may or may not decide to continue to work, whether as a teacher or in another field.
The job was offered to me since they needed an extra hand in the nursery. There were working parents who needed a place for their 4-6 year old children to stay while their "big schools' are on a break. The same children also came from the same nursery when they were just pre-schoolers, so it was quite difficult for the administrator to say no. On Thursday last week, the administrator approached me and asked if I could take the job. She needed my answer by 8am that same day so I immediately called my husband. Tian readily agreed, he was actually glad for me, especially that I will be working in the same place where our daughter is. In short, I accepted the offer and on the weekend, I found myself surfing the net for some activities appropriate for the age group that I will be handling. Lucky enough, I was able to find some good ones. Saturday, the eve of my teaching debut, I was busy preparing the activities for the chilldren, cooking food for our lunch the next day and packing food for all three of us.
Sunday was my first day at work. For someone who's spending her first day on the job, I would have to say that I wasn't nervous at all. Probably, having my own daughter has prepared me for it. At the back of my mind, I knew that doing this job would be just like being a mom to Xianelle, only on a larger scale. Perhaps my frequent visits to the nursery gives me a great degree of familiarity with the staff, the place and even with most of the children there, although my class would consist of children coming from other schools. On the first day, only two of my pupils came, so they had to join another class. It was actually a good way to start since I got the chance to see their routine first hand. I spent the day assisting in that class. Having said that, it was easier for me the next day.
Meeting with my pupils for the first time and putting into practice what I've learned the day before was a bit tough. I had older pupils (4 to almost 8 year olds). Children will be children even if they are a bit older. They still are playful and to some degree still naughty and pesky. But of course, I had to assert my authority and I was able to pull it off. From then on, everyday, I would give them activities like coloring and other art work. I confess that some of the activities may be a little easy for them. Then we'd have our lesson. They enjoyed it when we did the flash cards. I had them guess the flash card by describing the item for them. All-in-all it was fun working at the nursery although I must say, it is really tiring. I know it's cliche but having experienced it myself, I am proud to say being a teacher is really one of the noblest and the hardest jobs in the whole world, same with being a mother. I have always had high respect for teachers but not as much as I do now. Kudos to all the educators in the world! As for me, I have yet 2 weeks to be a teacher and a choice whether I'd continue to be one. Until then...
